Reviews

Madara is one of the myriad 90s fantasy OVAs with a crazy imagination and a totally unique identity. Though, in terms of how it compares to the other anime in that crowd, it lands somewhere in the middle of the pack as a solid, entertaining example of the style, while not breaking any new ground as something particularly noteworthy beyond what you see on the face of it. Beginning with the story, the viewer is presented with a creative and utterly unusual fantasy plot, complete with magic, beastmen, a demon king, a chosen one prophecy, and a kind of mechanical puppet body prosthetic popular among amputees called a "Gimmick". Beyond some really creative, almost psychedelic worldbuilding that fits right in with the adventurous, experimental weirdness of 90s OVAs, the story is actually pretty basic, amounting to your classic hero's journey adventure. One noted exception here is the ending, which throws so many twists and surprises your way it's almost like the show is making up for lost time. So, while it isn't perfect, with convenient plot devices written in at the last moment to make up for apparent plot holes, it's still a fun time.

The art is classically 90s, and while not necessarily executed in the most technically skillful manner, it's still embodying a unique art direction which effortlessly captures the story's bizarre world, and that alone makes the art this anime's strongest aspect. It's not a visual masterpiece, but it is brave enough to pursue its creative vision without reservation, which is a noble thing, and results in an end product which is engaging regardless of some production shortfalls.

The sound is good, meeting the basic standards of the time, though the voice work falls a little short in certain places.

The characters also meet all basic standards of quality, serving their roles well in a story which moves them along through a solid adventure. Of them, Madara and Grandpa Tatara are my favorites. Madara is your classic shonen protagonist, and fills the role well as a cool, multifaceted frontman who interacts in interesting ways with the story that moves him about. Meanwhile, Tatara is an excellent execution of the wise old man archetype, and his connection with mysterious magics, as well as his noble pursuit as a protector of Madara and enemy of the demonic king Miroku, add to his engaging, mysterious persona, ultimately helping him to really stand out from among the cast of characters at play. Overall, Madara is good old fun. If you're looking for a solid example of a creative, action-packed 90s OVA, you could certainly do worse than Madara.